Peninsula or Front/Back

DaddyO NJ · Jan 5, 2020

I'm going to be renovating part of my house and my wife is actually encouraging me to upgrade our tank to be a room divider between the kitchen and family room.
It is probably going to be about a 60" tank.

Not sure if I want to do a peninsula or just have it viewable from both sides.

What are the pros/cons of each?
What is everyone's vote?

Dempsey941 · Jan 5, 2020

Why punish your guests by forcing them to only look at your tank from one side when you can give them two views

bdesign · Jan 5, 2020

My favorite viewing angle, believe it or not, is from the end looking down the 8’ length. Very cool.
I vote peninsula.

MERKEY · Jan 5, 2020

Sounds like a great tank in the making!!

If it where my house and separating 2 rooms I'd probably want as much viewing angles as possible.

scavdog · Jan 5, 2020

peninsula ! Plan your flow wisely.

Best of luck!

IKD · Jan 5, 2020

Peninsula is my vote, especially if you are doing corals. You do have another long-side of glass to keep clean, but you basically get a second display tank to stock.

jblasi · Jan 5, 2020

Peninsula for sure! When we purchased our new home our downstairs was open between the living room and the dining room/kitchen. We went with a WB 7226. SPS dominant bare bottom. LOTS of flow.
1. - Biggest con of a peninsula is cabinet space for extra equipment. (I added a small cabinet for all the Apex gear since my calcium and media reactors took up the rest of the space under the regular cabinet. - Another con is achieving the proper flow you want and keeping the sleek look of the peninsula. (I tried having all my power heads on the overflow side, but I was getting dead spots on the other end being a 6ft tank. So I ended up running one of my MP60’s to the opposite side and ran the wire as neat as possible.

mikedb · Jan 5, 2020

I was in your position, and chose a peninsula. I love the format, and agree with @bdesign that the end view is one of the best!

I have two Gyre XF350s at the overflow end, and am quite happy with the flow. The return nozzle in my Red Sea actually provides surprisingly good flow on the far side of the tank. The LPS, Gorgonians, and Zoos living over there are quite happy- I don’t plan to have SPS on that side of the tank.

bdesign · Jan 6, 2020

Here’s another end view for you @DaddyO NJ

Never mind the terrible shot... the goofy fish are obsessed with me (or maybe it’s me usually having food. Haha).

DaddyO NJ · Jan 7, 2020

thanks, everyone! Looking like a peninsula for me!

motortrendz · Jan 7, 2020

bdesign said:
Here’s another end view for you @DaddyO NJ

Never mind the terrible shot... the goofy fish are obsessed with me (or maybe it’s me usually having food. Haha).

That tang is gorgeous. Fowleri?

And for the OP definitely peninsula.